Paris, 18th June 2001
The French Telecommunications Regulator confirms the implementation of two modifications related to the telephone numbering system in the four overseas departments on 22nd June. These modifications are as follows:
- First, the local six digit numbering system will be changed to ten digits in the three departments of Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique
- Secondly, the numbering system for mobile phones will be changed in the four departments of la Réunion, Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique.
These changes have become necessary because of the extremely fast development of the telecommunications market in these overseas departments. They aim at making new numbering resources available in order to avoid short-term overloads and to allow competition to develop.
- Fixed telephone lines: from six to ten digits
During the changeover from six to ten digits in France on 18th October 1996, the possibility of continuing to call the same overseas territory by dialling only six digits had been temporarily maintained alongside the ten digit numbering system.
The Authority decided on 14th June 2000 to discontinue the six digit numbering system1. This operation was then carried out in Réunion on 15th December 2000. It will take place on 22nd June 2001 in Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique.
This measure was prepared in co-operation with the telecommunications operators working in the overseas departments who have notified all their subscribers beforehand through circulars.
- How will numbering work as of 22nd June?
- For all local calls: dial the ten digits of the number you are calling
- For international calls to the overseas department: from now on, dial: + country code2 followed by the last 9 digits of the number you are calling (for international, the 0 is not required).
- There is no change for the following:
- Subscribers to fixed networks keep their ten digit numbers as they are at present
- Calls to France, other overseas departments, overseas territories or other international calls.
- Special numbers in 1X, 11X or 10XY form remain unchanged.
- Short four digit numbers (in 36PQ form) and short six digit numbers (in 083BPQ form) remain unchanged as well.
- Mobile telephones: 05 becomes 06
Mobile telephone numbers, as in France, will be accessible by dialling 06 from now on.
Departments | Before 22nd June | After 22nd June |
Guadeloupe | 05 90 31 XX XX | 06 90 31 XX XX |
Guyana | 05 94 21 XX XX | 06 94 21 XX XX |
Martinique | 05 96 22 XX XX | 06 96 22 XX XX |
Réunion | 02 62 85 XX XX | 06 92 85 XX XX |
- Plan for carrying out the operation
The operation for changing the numbering system to ten digits for internal calls in the three overseas departments concerned and for the new mobile telephone numbers in the four overseas departments will be carried out next Friday according to the following timetable:
Departments | Date and local time | Date and time (GMT) |
Guadeloupe | 22nd June 2001 at 10:30 p.m. | 23rd June 2001 at 2:30 p.m. |
Guyana | 22nd June 2001 at 11:30 p.m. | 23rd June 2001 at 2:30 p.m. |
Martinique | 22nd June 2001 at 10:30 p.m. | 23rd June 2001 at 2:30 p.m. |
Réunion | 22nd June 2001 at 10:30 p.m. | 22nd June 2001 at 6:30 p.m. |
After this date, all calls to six digit numbers will be sent to a pre-recorded message.
1 Information supplied to ART on 26th July 2000
2 Country code: 262 for Réunion, 590 for Guadeloupe, 594 for Guyana and 596 for Martinique